MTN 'proudly South African`

Cellular network operator MTN has joined the Proudly South African campaign.

"Although our company has global reach in terms of our operations in Africa and our plans to enter other markets in developing countries, we were born and bred in SA and there cannot be a more worthy ideal than to embrace being proudly South African," says CEO Maanda Manyatshe.

Proudly South African is a campaign to promote South African companies, products and services, with the ultimate aim of creating jobs and economic growth.

Campaign chairman Tim Modise says a company must meet four criteria to be eligible for membership: its products or services must consist of at least 50% local content; they must meet high standards of quality; the company must observe human rights and labour laws; and the company must be committed to sound environmental standards.

He adds that the campaign now has about 2 400 members.

Asked why it had taken so long for MTN to join the campaign, Modise said the fact that Telkom was a founding member "would have dwarfed MTN`s membership".

However, the campaign is entering a new phase and there is room for negotiation with MTN on different activities with which it can be associated exclusively.